1925: Fay Lanphier, Oakland, Calif. The first winner to represent an entire state; as many as 84 contestants had been entered in the early years, sometimes divided into groups of "professionals" (models), "amateurs" and "inter-city beauties." less

1925: Fay Lanphier, Oakland, Calif. The first winner to represent an entire state; as many as 84 contestants had been entered in the early years, sometimes divided into groups of "professionals" (models), ... more

1933: Marian Bergeron, West Haven, Conn. Bergeron was just 15 when she won the crown after the pageant. The Great Depression and a series of minor controversies derailed the pageant for one year after this.

1933: Marian Bergeron, West Haven, Conn. Bergeron was just 15 when she won the crown after the pageant. The Great Depression and a series of minor controversies derailed the pageant for one year after this.

1941: Rosemary LaPlanche, Los Angeles. The pageant instituted a new rule after this year, preventing contestants from entering more than once. LaPlanche's win, some complained, was made easier by the fact she'd been in the pageant the year before. less

1941: Rosemary LaPlanche, Los Angeles. The pageant instituted a new rule after this year, preventing contestants from entering more than once. LaPlanche's win, some complained, was made easier by the fact she'd ... more

1949: Jacque Mercer, Litchfield, Ariz. Mercer was married briefly before her reign ended and later was instrumental in passing a rule that Miss America winners could no longer become married while holding the title. less

1949: Jacque Mercer, Litchfield, Ariz. Mercer was married briefly before her reign ended and later was instrumental in passing a rule that Miss America winners could no longer become married while holding the ... more

1951: Yolande Betbeze, Mobile, Ala. The pageant, then held in September, didn't skip a year, it merely decided to call the winner Miss America for the year following her coronation, since the majority of her reign would occur then. Betbeze had perhaps a more important distinction; raised in a convent, she refused to be seen in swimwear after her coronation on moral grounds, angering swimear manufacturer and pageant sponsor Catalina. Catalina thus pulled out of the pageant and started the Miss USA competition, which led to creation of the Miss Universe pageant. less

1951: Yolande Betbeze, Mobile, Ala. The pageant, then held in September, didn't skip a year, it merely decided to call the winner Miss America for the year following her coronation, since the majority of her ... more

1984: Vanessa Williams, Syracuse, N.Y., resigned after becoming the first African-American Miss America when sexually explicit photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine. Williams has since gone on to success in music and acting. less

1984: Vanessa Williams, Syracuse, N.Y., resigned after becoming the first African-American Miss America when sexually explicit photos of her were published in Penthouse magazine. Williams has since gone on to ... more

2005: Deidre Downs, Birmingham, Ala. Hers was the last pageant to be shown on a major TV network; poor ratings relegated it to cable thereafter, and the pageant moved from Atlantic City, N.J., to Las Vegas; from September to January; and from ABC to cable networks CMT, and then to TLC from 2008. less

2005: Deidre Downs, Birmingham, Ala. Hers was the last pageant to be shown on a major TV network; poor ratings relegated it to cable thereafter, and the pageant moved from Atlantic City, N.J., to Las Vegas; ... more

2010: Caressa Cameron, Fredericksburg, Va. Her reign will end Saturday night, and a new Miss America will be crowned -- the 85th in a pageant that is 90 years old. Who will it be? The pageant returns to ABC and can be seen at 9 p.m. (delayed three hours in the Pacific time zone). less

2010: Caressa Cameron, Fredericksburg, Va. Her reign will end Saturday night, and a new Miss America will be crowned -- the 85th in a pageant that is 90 years old. Who will it be? The pageant returns to ABC and ... more